Stoner's stability
BUTLER TWP — Butler varsity wrestling coach Scott Stoner recently realized his 250th career dual match win with the Golden Tornado.
He took time to reflect on his career in the sport, leading into this weekend's Section 3-AAA individual tournament at Fox Chapel.
What first interested you in wrestling?I didn't get involved in the sport until eighth grade. My mom and dad wanted me to be in the band. I played the trumpet ... well, I blew through it, anyway, and never really got into it. My cousin Chuck wrestled and I got exposed to the sport through him.I was a small guy, weighed maybe 70 pounds, and it was always challenging for me to gain self-respect. I wasn't very talented, so I really had to work hard at wrestling.It didn't take long for it to become a life commitment for me. Honestly, I don't know where I'd be without it.
How did you land in Butler?I was looking for a teaching job and officiated wrestling tornaments on weekends for some extra money. I worked a tournament at Butler and they were looking for a coach.I wanted to coach high school wrestling, so I applied, put in my resume, and felt like I could do a lot of good here. Russ Greer was on the school board and sort of got wrestling started here. It was hard for me to believe wrestling didn't start in Butler until 1991, since Pennsylvania has been such a hotbed for wrestling. I was excited about the prospects.
What are the highlights of your coaching career at Butler?Cole Baxter winning the WPIAL title, obviously, and there's plenty of team stuff. I'm a team-oriented guy, so that's the stuff I tend to remember. Making the top-10 team rankings in 1998 was a big deal to me, getting four section champs in one year, stuff like that.
You can only have one of the following: A team section championship, dual match win over North Allegheny or an individual state champion. Which do you choose?Beating NA would be huge because that program is such a bench-mark, but I'd take the section title. Again, it's a team thing. I've been here 19 years and we haven't won a section title. When are they going to fire me?
What are your thoughts on “cutting weight” in wrestling?It can be dangerous. There's a right and wrong way to do it. Kids have to make smart decisions. Conditioning from the start is the key. We've done things like ultimate frisbee, and running to keep in shape.I'm a bigger believer in trimming body fat than in just cutting weight.
Have you ever considered leaving Butler?I actually vacated the position in 1998 to take a teaching job at Seneca Valley. Ken Lockey was planning on stepping down as wrestling coach there and he had built quite a program.Bottom line was, I couldn't give up what we had gotten started in Butler. They had already opened the position, but I called Jerry Slamecka (in personnel) and they welcomed me back. I re-interviewed for my old job and haven't considered leaving since.
What significance does 250 wins have for you?I've never counted or even looked at the numbers. The relationships I've built with the kids is what I value most about this job.“It's taken a lot of great wrestlers, good kids with so much dedication to produce that number of wins. I'm proud of what we've accomplished in terms of the number of kids in the program. I don't take time to reflect back, but the memories are there.
How rewarding is it to see so many former wrestlers return to the program in a coaching capacity?It's emotionally moving. I've worked with a lot of good kids over the years and maintaining contact with them is important to me. I love when guys stop in over holiday breaks and I get a lot of notes from former wrestlers I've coached.I save every one. Its oe of the rewearding things about coaching. Wrestling gives kids traits they can use later in life and I love to see so many of them give back to the sport they way they do.
Describe your relationship with (your former college coach and current Butler assistant coach) Fred Powell.I don't even know how to begin to do that. Coach has always led by example. He's tireless. We do push-ups in the room, he's on his 82nd one and the rest of us are done.He'll work with a kid on anything at any time. His wrestling knowledge is unparalleled at this level and he's one of the premier educators in this sport.Fred Powell is simply a tremendopus person. He's always gained my respect, never by asking for it.
Here is Scott Stoner's year-by-year dual match record as head wrestling coach at Butler High School:<B>Year W L</B>1993-94 14 111994-95 8 111995-96 12 81996-97 12 61997-98 9 61998-99 9 31999-00 8 52000-01 5 72001-02 7 82002-03 13 32003-04 6 92004-05 14 52005-06 18 62006-07 7 142007-08 21 62008-09 23 62009-10 20 42010-11 26 52011-12 19 6Totals 250 129<B></B>
